butterflies

After working diligently away on restocking my journals for the coming holiday season these past few weeks, I finally feel comfortable enough to start building up my mixed media journal offerings. I like to work on a bunch at the same time. This week I’m going to concentrate on creating mixed media panels that will be bound up as journals.

This is very different from my usual. Actually I worked on 2 other panels today as well and they are all showing a departure. And one that I’m excited about. I have been wanting to incorporate more fabric and fiber into my mixed media pieces. I’ve always been drawn to needlework and sewing. Although I don’t know how to sew really. I just play around with my machine, which is fine for now. But eventually I would like to actually have some skills in that arena.

For years I’ve collected bits and pieces of fabrics. Even bought fat quarters at the fabric stores even though I didn’t have any projects in mind for them. Fabric stores are like art stores for me. Which is odd, since like I said I’ve never even done anything with fabric! I think it’s just all the colors, patterns, and textures. The untapped potential.

This piece includes an embroidered handkerchief that I bought at an estate sale a few months ago. I used beeswax as my main source of adhesion. It stiffened the fabric nicely. I had fun making this one. I wanted it to look like a fabric envelope.

Today felt good. This is what I love. Even if not every panel is a success. This feels right – the process, the exploration, the discovery. I felt like I’ve been far from myself for the past few weeks with not painting or creating mixed media pieces. No wonder why I’ve been cranky.